I'll Take Sweden
I'll Take Sweden is a 1965 American comedy film directed by Frederick de Cordova, and starring Bob Hope, Frankie Avalon, and Tuesday Weld.
| I'll Take Sweden | |
|---|---|
 Movie poster | |
| Directed by | Frederick de Cordova |
| Produced by | Edward Small |
| Written by | Nat Perrin |
| Based on | story by Nat Perrin Bob Fisher Arthur Marx |
| Starring | |
| Music by | |
| Cinematography | Daniel L. Fapp |
| Edited by | Grant Whytock |
Production company | Edward Small Productions |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date | 18 June 1965 (USA) |
Running time | 97 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.5 million[1] |
Plot
Single father Bob Holcomb (Hope), a widower, is unhappy with the guitar-playing boy Kenny (Avalon) his daughter JoJo (Weld) chooses as a husband-to-be. An executive with an oil company, Bob accepts a transfer to the firm's Stockholm branch and he takes JoJo along, hoping it will distract her.
Sweden turns out to be far more liberal sexually than the United States. Bob, having met an attractive interior designer, Karin (Dina Merrill), decides to take her away for a romantic weekend at a mountain resort.
JoJo, however, has accepted a similar offer from Erik (Jeremy Slate), who is Bob's new assistant. Originally seen as a respectable suitor, Erik turns out to be a playboy and a cad. A girl thought to be his cousin, Marti, is actually a former girlfriend.
Kenny turns up and brings Marti along to the resort, where the three couples continue to awkwardly encounter one another. Kenny finally has his fill of Erik, knocking him out with his guitar. On a voyage home, the ship's captain performs a double wedding ceremony, that turns out to be invalid, due to a navigation error. So it needs to be done again.
Principal cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Bob Hope | Bob Holcomb |
| Tuesday Weld | JoJo Holcomb |
| Frankie Avalon | Kenny Klinger |
| Dina Merrill | Karin Granstedt |
| Jeremy Slate | Erik Carlson |
| Rosemarie Frankland | Marti |
| John Qualen | Olaf |
Production notes
Development
The film was announced in April 1964 with Hope and Weld attached from the beginning.[2]
In July Frederick de Cordova was announced as director.[3]
The movie was advertised as being Hope's 50th but even he disputed that.[4]
Filming
Filming started August 1964. The parts of the movie that were supposed to be in Sweden were shot at Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead, California.[5][6]
Director Frederick De Cordova saw Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson, dance the Watusi at a White House barbecue. He offered her a role in the film but she declined on the grounds she had to go to school.[7] Billie Dove visited the set and Bob Hope offered her a role too but the former star declined.[8]
Critical reception
Howard Thompson of The New York Times loathed the film: "The picture is an altogether asinine little romp... Nothing can save this tattered, old-fashioned dip."[9] Other reviews were mixed.[10] Hope was so impressed with Avalon's work, he signed Avalon to appear on his television show.[11]
See also
References
- Anticipated rentals accruing distributors in North America. See "Top Grossers of 1965", Variety, 5 January 1966 p 36
- Hopper, Hedda (2 July 1965). "Bob Hope to Star in 'T'll Take Sweden': He'll Play Tuesday's Father; 'Touch of Sun' to Move Here". Los Angeles Times. p. D11.
- "Bob Hope comedy". The Christian Science Monitor. 8 July 1964. p. 4.
- Alpert, Don (20 June 1965). "Hope's Heard the One About the...". Los Angeles Times. p. b7.
- I'll Take Sweden (1965) – Trivia – IMDb
- I'll Take Sweden (1965) – Filming locations
- Winzola McLendon (15 August 1964). "Luci Offered Film Role". The Washington Post, Times Herald. p. C11.
- "Former Silent Film Beauty Visits Hope Set". Los Angeles Times. 3 October 1964. p. B3.
- https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9804EFDF103CE733A25751C1A96E9C946491D6CF
- Philip Kopper (1 July 1965). "Van Dyke Amusing in Faltering Comedy: Road to Sweden Leads Hope Astray". The Washington Post, Times Herald. p. D25.
- Hopper, Hedda (10 September 1964). "Skelton Hailed as Pied Piper of Fun: London Paper Asks Why His Show Hasn't Played Britain". Los Angeles Times. p. C12.